Maynard James Keenan, known as the singer of Tool, A Perfect Circle and Puscifer, is far from limited to his musical career. In addition to music, he is involved in winemaking, practices jiu-jitsu and owns a record store, Queen B. Vinyl Café, recently established in Cottonwood, Arizona. This multifunctional venue serves as a concert hall, café and ramen restaurant.
Defending his versatility outside of music
During his appearance on the podcast Bertcast hosted by comedian Bert Kreischer, Keenan discussed the sometimes negative reactions he receives online when he shares these other activities. The singer recalled a remark received online, where a user advised him to “stay in [son] field and write songs”. In response, Keenan expressed what he would have liked to say: “Listen, dude – I’ve written, recorded, released and sung more songs than you will ever do in your life. And, in fact, I’m going to continue to write, record and sing more songs than you ever will.”
However, Keenan knows that responding to this type of comment is often futile: “But you can’t say that, because you engage in dialogue and you get sucked into the abyss.”
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New projects: gin and chocolate
Keenan also revealed on the podcast that he was venturing into two new industries: gin production and chocolate. He explained that he was working on a gin project with a patented recipe and packaging ready, while specifying that the details would be revealed later. At the same time, inspired by the idea of linking wine and chocolate, he plans to develop his own chocolate line.
Sound advice for young musicians
During the interview, Keenan shared some fun and insightful advice for young bands navigating the music industry. He explained that in this industry, professionals often use compliments to attract new artists. Keenan recommends mentally replacing each compliment with “naive” or “stupid” and imagine the person with rabbit ears, a tip for detecting the intentions hidden behind flattering words: “It sets everything straight and lets you see what they’re really trying to tell you.”
With his experience, Maynard James Keenan knows that public expectations do not prevent him from exploring his other passions and pursuing new creative avenues, while remaining deeply involved in music.
